42 Cardinals and 470 Bishops Attended Escrivá's Canonization

October 07, 2002
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VATICAN CITY, OCT. 7, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The canonization of Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer attracted more than just Opus Dei members -- representatives from episcopates, religious congregations and new ecclesial realities also attended.

Forty-two cardinals and 470 bishops from around the world participated in the eucharistic celebration Sunday in St. Peter's Square.

Also on hand were the general superiors of many orders and religious congregations, a sign of the importance of the canonization for the universal Church.

Among many of the representatives of the new ecclesial charisms attending the canonization were Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández, founders of the Neocatechumenal Way; Father Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legionaries of Christ and the Regnum Christi movement; and Andres Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio.